Castle Howard Courtyard Café

11:27am Saturday 17th May 2008

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Timing is everything as we learnt on our visit to Castle Howard.

We arrived early enough to amble around the courtyard shops before a leisurely tour of the grand house. But when the clock struck midday our stomachs declared it was lunch-time and that was that.

Sparing a moment to admire a peacock peeking through the grass, we marched back to the entrance, crossed the cobbled courtyard and bagged the only empty table on the café's outside terrace.

Moments later, several parties had to be turned away - although they could have had their pick of tables inside. For those who haven't been, visitors can go to the Courtyard Café as well as the farm shop and other outlets for free without going into the grounds.

I was relieved to see there were several high chairs available, and was able to relax and read the simple but diverse menu while my young son Miles happily banged his spoon.

On the day I visited with my parents, the courtyard was basking in sunshine and I was grateful for the large parasol above us.

There is a breakfast menu until 11.30am - something to savour another day, I thought.

The lunch menu is available from noon until 3pm, and there is also the all day menu until 4.30pm.

The selection of dishes seemed fairly limited, particularly if you didn't fancy a sandwich - of which there were several offerings. But any complaints disappeared when our meals arrived - they were all freshly cooked, generous in size and using quality produce which couldn't be faulted.

We ordered the soup - cream of parsnip (£5.25), from the specials board - for us all to sample but Miles decided it was much tastier than anything I'd taken for him, and finished most of it.

I could have chosen the "Children's Corner" for Miles - fresh fish pieces or Castle Howard sausage or cheese and tomato pizza with home-made chips and then something from the goody basket or an ice cream for £4.

There was also a children's lunch box (£4) - egg, cheese or ham sandwich, a yoghurt, piece of fresh fruit and drink, but Miles was content to pinch from our plates.

The choice of sandwiches included Castle Howard Aberdeen Angus minute steak and salad leaves on focaccia with chips (£7.95), smoked salmon with free range eggs and Sekura cress on wholemeal, with salad leaves and crisps (£6.75), roast chicken and grilled bacon, with lemon mayonnaise on a white bloomer with salad leaves and crisps (£6.50).

There was also a specials board including avocado and prawns (£4.95), as well as beef bourguignon with potatoes and vegetables (£8.50).

We were all tempted by the cod and pancetta fish cakes (£7.95) but my dad got in there first, and declared the cakes a winner. Encased in a dry crispy coating, they were thick and meaty in texture, light in taste with the distinctive main ingredients complementing each other well. The freshly cooked, chunky chips were also a hit.

My mum was tempted by the lightly battered haddock with chips and mushy peas (£10.95) but plumped for the warm chicken salad which came with a chive and coriander pesto (£8.50). She said the chicken was slightly dry but the dressing was delicious, transforming what could have been a simple dish into something special.

I opted for the pasta with fresh salmon flakes and prawns (£8.95) and was impressed with the generous portion which was almost concealed by large shavings of parmesan. There were more prawns than I could count and they were meaty and very moreish, while the "salmon flakes" were actually large, deliciously succulent chunks. It came in a delicate creamy sauce.

For pudding, mum chose chocolate nemesis (£5.75), a warm, melt-in-the-mouth cake that was the best dessert she'd had for a long time. It came with a dark chocolate sauce and clotted cream.

My raspberry pavlova (£4.95) was very good too - the meringue was tasty, not too sweet and quite chewy, with oodles of fresh double cream and fruit, attractively topped off with a sprig of mint.

But the Nemesis definitely has my name on it next time.

There was a reasonably priced cake selection including scone, jam and clotted cream (£2.50), lemon syrup cake (£2.35), date and walnut cake (£2.15) and chocolate brownies (£2.15) We had to go inside to make our order and pay, so I had a quick nosey at the interior. It was pleasant enough and clean with flowers on the tables, but lacked the courtyard charm.

Our bill just topped £45 which seemed quite an indulgence for lunch-time, but I didn't hear any grumbles.

Nadia Jefferson-Brown visited Castle Howard Courtyard Café on Monday, May 12, 2008.

It is open from 10am to 5pm daily. For reservations contact 01653 648635.